20 Halfway Through, He Suddenly Wanted to Take Out A Lighter and Fuel

"Bring this out." He Fang placed the cut cucumber on the plate and put it aside.

"Bring this out too."

The stir-fried garlic sprouts and fungus were also ready.

"Come. Serve the dishes."

The aroma of mixed fried vegetables filled the entire kitchen.

She fried dish after dish in the pan. Between serving plates, Qin Guanglin helped wash three cutlery sets and placed them on the table. He then brought out the rice before returning to the kitchen to wait for He Fang's last dish.

He Fang placed the pickled vegetables and fish into a large bowl. She then scattered a few peppercorns on it. Qin Guanglin was just about to bring the dish away when she stopped him. After that, he watched her pour a bit of oil into the pan to heat it before gently pouring it onto the fish.

'Tsss!'

The aroma became even richer.

Only then did Qin Guanglin bring it out to the living room table. Seeing that He Fang had not left the kitchen, he took the bowls and scooped rice into them.

Mother Qin looked at the dishes on the table and smiled, revealing her teeth. "Where's He Fang? Why isn't she out yet?"

"I'll go take a look." Qin Guanglin swiftly scooped three bowls of rice and placed them on the table. He immediately walked into the kitchen where He Fang was currently washing the pots and pans she had just used.

"I'll wash up later. Eat first."

"I'll be done soon," He Fang responded. She rinsed the bowl in her hand once and put it down neatly. She washed her hands before finally removing her apron and following Qin Guanglin out.

"It's been tough on you, He Fang. Quick, sit down. Lin has already scooped rice for you."

"It's alright. It wasn't tough." He Fang smiled and sat down. "My hands were a bit slow because I haven't cooked in a long time. Quick, have a taste."

"It smells delicious." Mother Qin picked up her chopsticks and her bowl. "Much better than my cooking. Where did you learn how to cook?"

"I cooked for myself often in the past." While speaking, He Fang too picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

"Lin's tastebuds will be so satisfied in the future…"

"Mm! Delicious, delicious!" Qin Guanglin interrupted Mother Qin's words loudly. "He Fang is amazing."

"If Auntie likes my cooking, I'll cook again next time." He Fang seemed quite satisfied with her performance. She smiled even more widely.

"How can I keep troubling you?" Mother Qin kicked Qin Guanglin lightly under the table. "He Fang made a tableful of dishes for your birthday. But you don't even know how to say a word of thanks."

"Auntie, there's no need to stand on ceremony." He Fang glanced at Qin Guanglin and paused. She then looked down and whispered, "Guanglin treats me very well. This is nothing."

"Ahem… Hm." Qin Guanglin choked briefly. After swallowing, he hastened them, "Eat quickly. The food will turn cold soon."

"Eat. He Fang, eat more. Treat this as your own home," Mother Qin added and did not speak further.

The meal was not all that sumptuous. The dishes were all straightforward and typical home-cooked dishes. As Qin Guanglin ate, he suddenly blanked out for a moment. This scene felt a little familiar.

The sense of déjà vu was fleeting. Qin Guanglin looked up and glanced at He Fang, who was taking small bites of food. She had always eaten in this manner - neither slow nor fast, with careful chewing. She would eat another mouthful only after swallowing the food in her mouth, unlike him, who ate without stopping.

Since he ate nonstop, he had already finished his first rice bowl while the others still ate. He was just about to stand up when He Fang stretched her hand out towards him. He hesitated briefly before handing his empty bowl to her.

As he watched He Fang stand up to scoop rice for him, Qin Guanglin decided that he would listen obediently to Teacher He's words in the future.

After all, during this interaction period, He Fang showed off her various merits and feelings for him. Apart from the fact that she enjoyed teasing him, she did not have any other bad points. In comparison, Qin Guanglin could not find any merits in himself.

How could such a good person take a fancy to him? Could it be because of his looks?

After their meal, Mother Qin wanted to clear the dishes, but He Fang stopped her. Qin Guanglin helped to bring the dirty dishes to the kitchen and placed them in the basin. They immediately filled more than half the basin. He folded his sleeves, picked up the cloth, and started washing the dishes. He had washed only two bowls when He Fang pushed him aside.

"This is my time to shine. Don't mess it up." He Fang threatened him with a soft voice, "You'll have plenty to wash in the future."

"…" Qin Guanglin was speechless for a moment. He sneaked a glance at Mother Qin in the living room. Then, he turned his head and mumbled, "I like you."

"Hm?" He Fang turned to look at him.

"I like you immensely," Qin Guanglin added slowly.

"Me too." He Fang stopped washing the bowl she was holding. She pushed her hair behind her ear and kissed him gently.

"Ahem…" Qin Guanglin coughed lightly to conceal how flustered he was. He hesitated for a moment and glanced furtively at the living room to make sure Mother Qin's attention was not on them. He then pecked He Fang's face quickly.

"Student Qin." He Fang was still doing the dishes. The smile on her face was charming. "You've become bad."

"I am…" Qin Guanglin held his breath for a moment. "You taught me."

He Fang blinked. She leaned in close and said softly into his ear, "Once Teacher He is done with the dishes, she'll give you a proper lesson."

"No need. I don't want it." Qin Guanglin shook his head. The lesson He Fang was talking about was definitely not anything serious.

"You really don't need it?"

"I really don't."

"Don't regret it then." He Fang was done washing the dishes. She took the white radish at the side and started cutting it.

"I won't." Qin Guanglin merely wanted things to progress slowly. "What are you doing?"

"I'll dice this and sprinkle salt on it. I'll deal with it again later when I'm about to leave. We'll have salted vegetables then." When she was done speaking, He Fang commanded, "Go to the fridge and get me a few peppers."

"Oh." Qin Guanglin did not know why she wanted to make salted vegetables. Nevertheless, he listened to her and did not question further.

Mother Qin returned to her bedroom, put on a coat, and walked out. "I'm going out for a walk. You guys stay here."

Qin Guanglin looked at the sky. It was already a bit dark outside. "The sky is nearly black. Where are you going?"

"Your Aunt Wang asked me out to the night market… By the way, it's not safe for a girl to be out alone at night. Remember to accompany He Fang when she goes back."

"Alright," Qin Guanglin responded. Of course, he was going to send her back.

The door closed. Mother Qin had gone out.

After passing the peppers to He Fang, he watched her put the radish into a large bowl. The two of them then left the kitchen.

"Do you want to visit the night market?" Qin Guanglin asked. There was nothing fun to do at home either.

He Fang made a beeline for his room and replied, "No. I'm a bit tired from playing all day. I need to rest."

Qin Guanglin thought about it and agreed. "I'll get you a glass of water then."

"Sure. Don't make it too hot."

He poured a glass of warm water and brought it into the room. He Fang was lying on the bed and staring into space. Qin Guanglin sat on the bed with the glass in hand. "Do you want to drink now?"

"Yes," He Fang affirmed and sat up. She stretched her neck out and moved her head towards him. "Lift it a bit higher."

"…"

Qin Guanglin brought the glass to He Fang's lips. She slurped a large mouthful and lay down again. "That's enough. Put it aside."

"You're not going to drink anymore?" He looked at the warm water in his hand. Although it looked like a large mouthful, it was just one mouthful.

"I won't drink anymore. I'm not thirsty." He Fang flipped over and lay sideways on the bed. She looked at him with her head resting on her hand. "I just wanted you to feed me some water. I would be emotionally imbalanced otherwise."

"What imbalance?" Qin Guanglin put the glass on his study desk and sat down again.

"Lie down, and I'll tell you." He Fang patted the space in front of her.

Qin Guanglin was alert, as always. A man and a woman were sharing a room and were even going to share a bed. She was definitely going to tease him about it. "I won't lie down. Just say it."

"I won't do anything to you. Don't worry," she said in a lazy tone.

He hesitated briefly before slowly lying down at the side of the bed. "I'm lying down now. Don't move about."

He Fang touched his face with her small hand. "Look at how hard I've worked. Shouldn't you be treating me better?"

"I should. How do you want me to treat you?" Qin Guanglin felt the chill on his face coming from her hand. He instinctively grabbed her hand.

"Hmph. You guard against me even when I ask you to lie down and rest." He Fang pursed her lips.

"I… I'm afraid that you…"

"What?"

"It's nothing." Qin Guanglin did not know how to put it into words either.

"Are you afraid I'll ruin you or something?" He Fang squinted at him and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll let you do it yourself."

"Do what?" Qin Guanglin inched upwards soundlessly. He felt that he was going to be tainted soon.

"Do you want Teacher He to teach you?" She scratched Qin Guanglin's palm lightly.

"No."

"Then tell me, how are you going to treat me well?"

"Uh…" Qin Guanglin was put on the spot. He genuinely did not know what to do specifically. He only knew that he had to treat her well.

"You can't say it, right?" He Fang looked as if she was saying, I knew you wouldn't be able to say it. "And you still say you don't want me to teach you?"

"I only know that I must make you happy." He hesitated briefly while holding He Fang's hand. He then lifted it and kissed the back of her hand. "I'll try my best to give you whatever you want."

"Come a little closer, then." He Fang tugged Qin Guanglin.

Qin Guanglin moved slightly closer to the middle of the bed.

"Kiss me."

She had said it so softly and with her eyes closed.